Auto injector with effective insertion system

Abstract

An auto injector for delivery of administering a medicament comprising: a housing; an electrical motor adapted to move a piston between proximal and distal positions in a longitudinal direction of the auto injector; a syringe holder extending from a proximal to a distal end and configured to receive a syringe, a first spring adapted for moving the syringe holder with the syringe proximally for insertion of the needle; wherein the electrical motor is the only motor in the auto injector.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An auto injector for delivery of administering a medicament from a syringe, the syringe including a syringe compartment containing the medicament and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a hollow needle in fluid connection with the proximal end of the syringe compartment, and a stopper positioned inside the syringe compartment, the auto injector comprising:
 a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end; 
 a piston positioned within the housing and configured for movement relative thereto, the piston having a release finger thereon; 
 an electrical motor adapted to move the piston between a proximal position and a distal position in a longitudinal direction of the housing; 
 a syringe holder positioned within the housing, the syringe holder extending from a proximal end to a distal end and configured to receive the syringe, wherein the piston is configured to move the stopper proximally thereby emptying the syringe compartment; and 
 a first spring positioned within the housing and adapted for moving the syringe holder with the syringe proximally for insertion of the hollow needle; and 
 an activation button adapted for activating the electrical motor for moving the piston proximally, wherein movement of the piston proximally releases the first spring; and 
 a release arm within the housing, wherein the release finger on the piston releases the first spring when the piston passes the release arm, and 
 wherein the electrical motor is the only motor in the auto injector. 
 
     
     
       2. The auto injector according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical motor is adapted for moving the piston proximally for injection of medicament concurrently with the release of the first spring. 
     
     
       3. The auto injector according to  claim 1 , wherein further movement of the piston proximally after the piston catches up with the syringe compartment, moves the stopper proximally thereby delivering the medicament. 
     
     
       4. The auto injector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a syringe sensor adapted for detecting when the syringe is positioned in the syringe holder. 
     
     
       5. The auto injector according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first spring is adapted for moving the syringe holder for insertion of the hollow needle at a needle insertion speed, and 
 the electrical motor is adapted for moving the piston at a medicament delivery speed, wherein the needle insertion speed is greater than the medicament delivery speed, 
 whereby the piston and the stopper is separated in the longitudinal direction during and for a time period after insertion of the hollow needle before the piston catches up with the syringe compartment. 
 
     
     
       6. The auto injector according to  claim 5 , wherein further movement of the piston in proximally after the piston catches up with the syringe compartment, moves the stopper proximally thereby delivering the medicament. 
     
     
       7. The auto injector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid needle shield remover adapted for separating the proximal end of the syringe compartment and a rigid needle shield of the syringe, wherein the electrical motor is further adapted for moving the syringe holder in a distal direction for separating the proximal end of the syringe compartment and the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
       8. An auto injector for delivery of administering a medicament from a syringe, the syringe including a syringe compartment containing the medicament and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a hollow needle in fluid connection with the proximal end of the syringe compartment, and a stopper positioned inside the syringe compartment, the auto injector comprising:
 a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end; 
 a piston positioned within the housing and configured for movement relative thereto; 
 an electrical motor adapted to move the piston between a proximal position and a distal position in a longitudinal direction of the housing at a medicament delivery speed; 
 a syringe holder positioned within the housing, the syringe holder extending from a proximal end to a distal end and configured to receive the syringe, wherein the piston is configured to move the stopper proximally thereby emptying the syringe compartment; and
 a first spring positioned within the housing and adapted for moving the syringe holder proximally for insertion of the hollow needle at a needle insertion speed, and 
 wherein the needle insertion speed is greater than the medicament delivery speed; and 
 
 an activation button adapted for activating the electrical motor for moving the piston proximally, wherein movement of the piston proximally releases the first spring; and 
 whereby the piston and the stopper are separated in the longitudinal direction during and for a time period after insertion of the hollow needle before the piston catches up with the syringe compartment. 
 
     
     
       9. The auto injector according to  claim 8 , wherein the electrical motor is adapted for moving the piston proximally for injection of medicament concurrently with the release of the first spring. 
     
     
       10. The auto injector according to  claim 8 , wherein further movement of the piston proximally after the piston catches up with the syringe compartment, moves the stopper proximally thereby delivering the medicament. 
     
     
       11. The auto injector according to  claim 8 , further comprising a syringe sensor adapted for detecting when the syringe is positioned in the syringe holder. 
     
     
       12. The auto injector according to  claim 8 , further comprising a rigid needle shield remover adapted for separating the proximal end of the syringe compartment and a rigid needle shield of the syringe, wherein the electrical motor is further-adapted for moving the syringe holder in a distal direction for separating the proximal end of the-syringe compartment and the rigid needle shield. 
     
     
       13. The auto injector according to  claim 8 , further comprising a release arm within the housing, and a release finger on the piston, wherein the release finger on the piston releases the first spring when the piston passes the release arm. 
     
     
       14. An auto injector for delivery of administering a medicament from a syringe, the syringe including a syringe compartment containing the medicament and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, a hollow needle in fluid connection with the proximal end of the syringe compartment, a stopper positioned inside the syringe compartment, and a rigid needle shield connected to the proximal end of the syringe compartment and covering the hollow needle, the auto injector comprising:
 a housing extending from a proximal end to a distal end; 
 a piston positioned within the housing and configured for movement relative thereto; 
 a syringe holder positioned within the housing, the syringe holder extending from a proximal end to a distal end and configured to receive the syringe, wherein the piston is configured to move the stopper proximally thereby emptying the syringe compartment; 
 an electrical motor adapted to move the piston between a proximal position and a distal position in a longitudinal direction of the housing, and the electrical motor is further adapted for moving the syringe holder in a distal direction for separating the proximal end of the syringe compartment and the rigid needle shield; 
 a first spring positioned within the housing and adapted for moving the syringe holder with the syringe proximally for insertion of the hollow needle; and 
 an activation button adapted for activating the electrical motor for moving the piston proximally, wherein movement of the piston proximally releases the first spring, and 
 wherein the electrical motor is the only motor in the auto injector. 
 
     
     
       15. The auto injector according to  claim 14 , wherein the electrical motor is adapted for moving the piston proximally for injection of medicament concurrently with the release of the first spring. 
     
     
       16. The auto injector according to  claim 14 , wherein further movement of the piston proximally after the piston catches up with the syringe compartment, moves the stopper proximally thereby delivering the medicament. 
     
     
       17. The auto injector according to  claim 14 , further comprising a syringe sensor adapted for detecting when the syringe is positioned in the syringe holder. 
     
     
       18. The auto injector according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first spring is adapted for moving the syringe holder for insertion of the hollow needle at a needle insertion speed, and 
 the electrical motor is adapted for moving the piston at a medicament delivery speed, wherein the needle insertion speed is greater than the medicament delivery speed, 
 whereby the piston and the stopper is separated in the longitudinal direction during and for a time period after insertion of the hollow needle before the piston catches up with the syringe compartment. 
 
     
     
       19. The auto injector according to  claim 18 , wherein further movement of the piston proximally after the piston catches up with the syringe compartment, moves the stopper proximally thereby delivering the medicament. 
     
     
       20. The auto injector according to  claim 14 , further comprising a release arm within the housing, and a release finger on the piston, wherein the release finger on the piston releases the first spring when the piston passes the release arm.